American Chestnut Orchard Tour

FOR ADULTS AND TEENS AGES 15-17

In the first half of the 20th century, the American chestnut tree was all but eliminated from the forests of eastern North America by an imported fungal disease, commonly known as chestnut blight. In cooperation with the American Chestnut Foundation, Tyler Arboretum is host to a preservation orchard where surviving examples of this tree are raised and bred as part of the conservation effort to restore this iconic tree to eastern forests. Join expert Dan O’Keefe for a tour of the orchard to learn about the American chestnut tree, its significance, and efforts to achieve resistance to the fungal blight. June is flowering time in the Chestnut Orchard. Flowers from select trees are hand pollinated to produce seeds.

Please arrive by 10:45 am and go directly to the Chestnut Orchard, not Tyler’s Visitor Center. Directions to the Chestnut Orchard from Tyler’s main entrance: turn left onto Painter Road and travel 3/10 of a mile; the Orchard entrance will be on your right. (If you pass the fenced-in giant sequoia tree on your left, you’ve gone slightly too far). A guide will be stationed at the entrance to direct you to the parking area.

Note: You will be alerted via e-mail on June 16 if the lot is too wet for parking. Cars will then be parked at the main entrance, and you will be escorted to the Chestnut Orchard, a walk of about 15 minutes. THE RAIN DATE IS 6/24.

Members: $5 per adult (Tyler members, sign in for your discount!); Youth (15-17): $3 each

American Chestnut Foundation Members: $5 per adult

Non-members: $21 per adult; $13 per Youth (15-17). The non-member fee includes admission to Tyler for the day. Stay as long as you’d like!

Guest Pass Holders: $5 per non-member adult. Please give the Visitor Center Associate your guest pass at check-in.

All youth must be accompanied by an adult. The fee is for each adult and each youth.

REGISTER HERE